fortify

verb

for·​ti·​fy ˈfȯr-tə-ˌfī 

fortified; fortifying

transitive verb

: to make strong: such as

a

: to strengthen and secure (a place, such as a town) by forts or batteries

a city fortified by high walls

b

: to give physical strength, courage, or endurance to

fortified by a hearty meal

c

: to add mental or moral strength to : encourage

fortified by prayer

fortified by early successes

d

: to strengthen or enhance by the addition of some substance or ingredient: such as

(1)

: to add distilled grape spirits to (wine) during fermentation to increase the alcohol content

… both the red and white versions we get in this country have been American-made-from California wine fortified with a touch of brandy.

—Jim Nelson

(2)

: to enrich (food) by adding ingredients (such as vitamins or minerals) to improve the nutritional value

… make sure any soy milk you buy is fortified with vitamin D, an essential nutrient for bone health.

—Selene Yeager

intransitive verb

: to erect fortifications

fortifier

ˈfȯr-tə-ˌfī(-ə)r 

noun

Did you know?

Medieval cities were fortified against attack by high walls, and volunteers may fortify a levee against an overflowing river by means of sandbags. Foods can be fortified by adding vitamins, but "fortified wines", such as sherry and port, have brandy (a "stronger" drink) rather than vitamins added to them. By adopting good exercise habits, you can fortify your body against illness. And fortifying needn't always be physical. An author's reputation may be fortified by the success of his new book, or a prosecutor can fortify a case against a suspect by finding more evidence.

Synonyms

• brace
• forearm
• nerve
• poise
• psych (up)
• ready
• steel
• strengthen

Examples of fortify in a Sentence

fortify a city against attack

a city fortified by high walls

Support for his theories has been fortified by the results of these experiments.

He took a deep breath to fortify himself before stepping onto the stage.

milk fortified with vitamin D

Recent Examples on the Web

Hyaluronic acid products are great generally for all skin types, but even more so for mature skin as the powerful ingredient helps skin stretch and flex while fortifying the skin barrier to lock in moisture (goodbye, dryness!). —Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 13 Apr. 2024

The company, priding itself on being Woman Owned and Service Disabled Veteran Owned, specializes in assessing data loss exposure, conducting thorough needs assessments, and fortifying data security through cutting-edge IT security methodologies and industry best practices. —William Mullane, USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024

Corner towers capped by domed roofs and a grand courtyard give it character, along with a moat, drawbridge, and fortified entrance that play up its medieval appeal. —Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 12 Apr. 2024

Eventually, their family built a wall in their backyard to fortify their property. —Matt Hamilton, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2024

The quartet is tasked with fortifying a young bullpen that also includes James McArthur, Angel Zerpa and Matt Sauer. —Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2024

Embracing their input for improvement demonstrates adaptability and commitment to progress, fortifying your organization for success. —Expert Panel®, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024

Put your energy into personal gains, increasing awareness and a physical improvement that fortifies your confidence. —Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 28 Mar. 2024

The Steelers go back to Georgia in back-to-back years fortify their offensive line for years to come. —Clarence E. Hill Jr., Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English fortifien, from Anglo-French fortifier, from Late Latin fortificare, from Latin fortis strong

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Kids Definition

fortify

verb

for·​ti·​fy ˈfȯrt-ə-ˌfī 

fortified; fortifying

: to make strong: as

a

: to strengthen by military defenses

fortify a town

b

: to give strength or endurance to

fortify the body against illness

a team fortified by the cheering crowd

c

: to add material to for strengthening or improving : enrich

fortify a soil with fertilizer

milk fortified with vitamin D

fortifier

-ˌfī(-ə)r 

noun